OOGA CHAKA

Is this why David Hasselhoff is famous in Germany? Because he stars in ridiculous, amateurishly shot, although wildly entertaining music videos? I could do that.

This blog as a thermometer

I thought that when I returned to the United States that I would be free to talk about everything I did and everything going on around me in the Army. I am not. I can't tell you what is happening in the battalion formerly known as the proud 1-503D INF. REGT. I can tell you I am sad.
My battalion has always had a reputation for wildness but certain things that have occurred since we returned have crossed the line. Behavior that was acceptable or even expected in Korea just doesn't fly in the United States. I've always said that people in the battalion where going to have trouble adjusting to be in a regular unit after being in Korea and Iraq, and I was right.
I can't talk about what is happening, but not because of OPSEC. I can tell you that this blog is most useful to the military families at home as a thermometer - as an indirect measure of unit morale. When posts are few and far between, and generally negative in character, overall morale is probably low. When I can write freely and openly about events in the unit, business is good. When post are few and far between and maybe a little confused, morale is very good - I've been out partying too much to post to the blog.
On a happier note, I have a tidbit of information to dribble out to certain interested parties. Stop-loss orders, unless I am grossly mistaken (which has happened more than once), only come down ninety days before a deployment or deployment availability. Regular readers of military newspapers have a good idea of when 2BCT, 2ID is available for deployment. If your soldier is hoping to separate from the Army or move to another unit it should be a simple matter to count back the days and decide whether stop-loss orders are likely to interfere. I, for one, have nothing to worry about (I get out of the Army May 6th). My life became much easier when I realized that I could stop listening to the rumors about stop-loss and plan for the future.

Workout Dissatisfaction

My schedule changed recently and I have less time to devote to my workout schedule. I decided that I should start working out twice a week. I began searching for a two day a week workout, maybe with an optional third day. Google led me to this workout on AskMen.com. On the face of it, this workout seems like it would be perfect for what I am proposing. But only on the face of the situation - for whatever reason the bench press is one of my weakest lifts, so I need more than three sets of bench press in a week to feel as if I am doing any effective upper body work.
I think I am going to try something like this POWERLIFTING. The caps lock thing was an accident but it seemed appropriate. I've done some cursory research and I am impressed by the anecdotal tales of athletic prowess among Olympic powerlifters - 42 inch vertical leaps, out-running sprinters at 25 meters, and a 6'3" 325 lbs man dunking a basketball. If I weighed 325 lbs I wouldn't be able to tie my shoes much less dunk a basketball.
From now on I think my workout routine is going to look like this:

• Barbell Bench Press 6-8 repetitions, 3 sets.
• Squats 6-8 repetitions, 3 sets. (substitute leg press or Smith Machine if knee pain increases)
  
• Deadlifts 6-8 repetitions, 3 sets.
  
• Power Cleans 3-5 repetitions, 3 sets.
• Push Press 3-5 repetitions, 3 sets.
• Dips/Pullup Supersets 10 repetitions, 3 sets.
• Squat jumps 3 repetitions, 3 sets. (never more than 50% of one rep max)
  
• Incline Crunch 20-30 repetitions, 5 sets. (or variations to target obliques)

This routine would limit rest between sets to 1 minute and I should probably start using weight belts and wraps. I would start with very light weights in all the new lifts. I would never do this routine on consecutive days, but I would attempt to go to the gym as many times during a week as possible. Of course, if I didn't have the energy I wouldn't bother. I'd do a five minute warm-up and a short cool-down. I'd try to run on my off days. I'd also try to finish everything in an hour and fifteen minutes.
It's worth a shot...
Or I could get fat and blame it on the training I am doing as a line medic with Able Company again.
I am also including a link to power lifters amazing athletic feats.